2016 ncaa basketball tournament
2015-16 tulsa

Michigan To Face Tulsa In NCAA Tournament Play-In Game Comment Count

Ace


YES WE KAM

An official Internet Hero by the name of Sarcastic Prick leaked the news partway through CBS's interminable selection show, but we waited until it was officially official: Michigan will face Tulsa on Wednesday in Dayton in an East region 11-seed play-in game; the winner will play six-seed Notre Dame in Brooklyn on Friday.

Wednesday's game will tip off at around 9:10 pm on TruTV. Friday's game, should Michigan make it, is set for a 9:40-ish start on CBS.

The full bracket [click to embiggen]:

Tulsa, a surprise inclusion in the field, is two spots below Michigan on KenPom at #58. The Golden Hurricane have two common opponents with the Wolverines: they split their season series against both UConn and SMU, two teams that defeated Michigan in non-conference play.

If Michigan advances into the field of 64, they'll take on an exaggerated version of themselves. Notre Dame boasts the tenth-most efficient offense in the country according to KenPom—and the #172 defense.

Much more coverage coming this week, obviously.

Comments

umchicago

March 13th, 2016 at 8:05 PM ^

i don't get all the bitching behind sparty as a #2.  the committee did them and UVA a favor.  they put UVA as #1 so they could play in raleigh and msu in st louis.  if both win, they end up in chicago.  that's best for both teams.

it certainly wouldn't be better for sparty to be #1 in the east or west.

Joined: 02/05/2009

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mfan_in_ohio

March 13th, 2016 at 9:33 PM ^

The locations are done by "pods," and the locations are based on the closest location to the top seed in each pod, with higher top seeds getting preference. The two pods in Raleigh were always going to be UNC and Virginia, just as Kansas was going to be in Des Moines and Oklahoma was going to be in OK City.

Joined: 01/26/2009

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Erik_in_Dayton

March 13th, 2016 at 9:27 PM ^

There is a major symbolic difference between being the 68th and the 69th team. That's silly to some extent, but it's very real. The atmosphere around the program would be very different if they'd missed the tournament for the second straight year. Teams would have negatively recruited with that fact. And some fans would have been that much more negative because of it. The young players also would have lost out on the chance to gain some great experience. This is indeed a very big thing even if Michigan crossed the threshold by the slimmest of margins.

Joined: 12/03/2008

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slimj091

March 13th, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^

Leave it to the NCAA to launch an investigation immediately when something might cost them, or their media partners money. But drag their heels when it comes to enforcing their own rules on certian schools.

Joined: 01/04/2014

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WolverineHistorian

March 13th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^

Thanks to Sarcastic Prick. Both CBS and ESPN dedicating 30 minutes to a bracket before revealing the next bracket was tedious. Every year, they draw out the selections longer and longer past the point of insanity.



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Joined: 08/10/2009

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BlueIsland

March 14th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

One of their all time greats in basketball from the not so distant 90's?

Lou Dawkins (Saginaw) played there as well. He coached the guy that plays in the Bay area that has aneurisms every time he sees a Michigan T-shirt.

What's really funny about that exchange is that his foundation partners with Lamar Woodley's foundation and co-runs an Saginaw based AAU basketball club with him. So I'm pretty sure he sees Michigan shirts alot.

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bluewoody

March 14th, 2016 at 11:24 PM ^

Sound like a real go-getter. My dog's brother's roommate says this is a good venture. If you would send me your name, address, and a check for $250...to my address in Nigeria, I would gladly sign up. Thank you most glorious sit, from the cousin of King Jaffery of Zumunda

Joined: 02/19/2012

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Mr. Elbel

March 14th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^

Goosebumps from that shot... shades of "it's too strong...three point game. Burke brings it down...five seconds...fires for three AND THE GAME IS TIED!"

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 21396